Jennie Lorette Keatts

Jennie Lorette Keatts was raised in New Hampshire, and graduated with a BA from the University of Colorado. She lived in Colorado until July 1999 working and traveling in the international tourism and hotel industry. In  1996 she took a basic jewelry making class  and began to do some very simple pieces using pottery and glaze drips for the shop at Jugtown Pottery, owned by her sister Pam Owens and husband Vernon.  She also began to collect beads and to make necklaces designed exclusively for  Jugtown Pottery using handmade pottery miniatures and beads created by Pam. As life in the tourism industry grew more stressful and unfulfilling, she decided to give it up and move to Jugtown to pursue her dream of jewelry making. In July 1999 she quit her job and moved to the very creative and serene environment of Jugtown Pottery in Seagrove, NC,  to pursue her dream of designing jewelry at Jugtown Pottery.  She lives within walking distance of Jugtown with her husband Wes, their dog and four cats!

And she has never looked back!

ARTIST STATEMENT

Turning Mud Into Gemstones……the trademark and by line of JLK Jewelry. Jennie Lorette Keatts hand makes pottery cabochons at Jugtown Pottery, layering glazes and creating one of kind stones that mimic natural stones in many ways. The love of working with metals and stones to create wearable works of art is fueled by the stones I create which become the focal point of my JLK Jewelry line.

Although, jewelry has always been a fascination, I did not come to this career until 1999. Worldwide travel during the 1990’s, working in the tourism industry, created a further growing interest in jewelry design, as I visited hand craft shops around the world. Visiting Japan and Korea held special importance and Asian influence is often reflected in my work.

It was a round about way that I found my path to Jugtown Pottery, owned by Vernon and Pam Owens, my sister. I began my career in the hotel industry, in Denver, Colorado, with a short period as a co-owner of a catering business. Climbing the hotel corporate ladder I held various positions in Food & Beverage and Accounting management, ending up as the Director of Sales and Marketing and Regional Sales Manager for Warwick International Hotels which started my worldwide travels. My last years in Denver were spent serving as the International Tourism Marketing Manager for the Denver Metro Convention and Visitors Bureau, promoting Denver to the travel industry in around the world.

At the urging of my sister I finally took a basic silver-smithing class in Denver in 1996 and began to do some very simple pieces using pottery sherds and glaze drips for the shop at Jugtown. I also began to collect beads and to make necklaces designed exclusively for Jugtown using handmade pottery miniatures and beads created by Pam. As life in the tourism industry grew more stressful, I decided to follow my dream and move to Jugtown to pursue jewelry making. In July 1999 I happily quit my job and moved to the very creative and serene environment to pursue my dream of designing jewelry at Jugtown Pottery.

In addition to the pottery stones, my work incorporates natural stones and gems and handmade pottery beads. The pottery stones are created by hand, bisque fired, and then glazes are layered to create pieces full of depth and imagination. The glazes are a product of the earth and have varying melting points that create these wonderful stones and therefore blend beautifully with the semi-precious stones used. In mixing the glazes, created by Pam Owens at Jugtown, I have found that I can create some of the randomness found in nature and my beautiful stones and gems.

The stones are set in sterling silver and often complemented with other metals such as gold and copper. Texture is often an integral part of the pieces. Reticulation, stamping, rolling and forging bring life to my pieces, often mixing all these techniques in one piece.

Creating things is a passion, whether it is jewelry, cooking, gardening or designing a room or house, I like to have my finger on the design pulse. My journey in creating is ongoing and will never end!

Celebrating 10 years in business in August 2009, JLK Jewelry has evolved to wide line of jewelry for women and men. Custom work is also frequently done. JLK Jewelry is available in many fine craft galleries, museum shops, juried craft shows, and of course at Jugtown Pottery. My web site www.jlkjewelry.com offers a wide range of the line for viewing and purchasing.

October 2009, Hendersonville, NC: JLK Jewelry is awarded Honorable Mention at the 50th Annual Art on Main.